Environmental

Environmental stewardship is a leading priority at The Willows. We approach it in a number of different ways, including:

  • Carbon sequestration through tree planting

  • Lowering emission intensity goal, particularly methane

  • Maintaining pasture ground cover

  • Containment feeding during tough seasons to preserve perennial pasture base and groundcover

  • Use of Perennial pastures to reduce nutrient leaching and increase organic matter, increasing carbon sequestration

  • Using high fertility genetics to create more efficient ewes, so more kilos of lamb produced per kilo of methane produced

  • Aiming for moderate frame ewes

  • Setting carbon and methane baselines so we can use carbon sequestration as on farm off sets

Social

Strong rural communities are the backbone of farming life. We look for opportunities to both be involved in and give back to our community and social networks. We regularly share information with clients that will play some part in improving their own profitability which we appreciate promotes a stronger rural community. We also have a long standing relationship with the Tumut Rugby Union Club, including sponsorship.

We have been involved with education days facilitated by JM Livestock for local prime lamb producers, providing education on using genetics to drive the profitability and sustainability of prime lamb enterprises in the area.

We are proud to have a skilled and diverse team with an even balance of men and women, and provide a family friendly environment within the business. We have also welcomed a number of work experience and university placement students onto the property to learn and gain experience within a seedstock and commercial prime lamb business.

Governance

We are strong believers in animal welfare, traceability and transparency within our business. Some of our focus areas are:

  • Transparent information

  • Fair and honest approach to ram sales

  • Client focused

  • Welcoming feedback and adapting breeding and gene selection in response

  • Providing high level training to staff

  • Highest level data quality and recording

  • Accurate individual animal management

  • Use of pain relief at lamb marking

  • Rearing mismothered lambs rather than letting nature take it’s course - we see this as responsible animal management!